Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Mike discovers that being the top-ranking laugh collector at Monsters, Inc. has its benefits – in particular, earning enough money to buy a six-wheel-drive car that's loaded with gadgets. That new-car smell doesn't last long enough, however, as Sulley jump-starts an ill-fated road test that teaches Mike the true meaning of buyer's remorse.
This Pixar short is a light, breezy companion piece to Monsters, Inc. with a simple one-joke premise — Mike's beloved new car gets progressively destroyed by Sulley. The plot is thin even by short-film standards, cycling through repetitive gags without much escalation. Voice performances from Billy Crystal and John Goodman are charming and carry the familiar chemistry, keeping the acting above average. Cinematography is competent Pixar work but unremarkable for the studio. Novelty is low — it's a straightforward comedic extension of the feature with no distinctive formal or narrative ambition. The ending wraps up predictably with the car ruined and Mike exasperated, offering no real surprise.